Locking means for pins and the like



NOV. 14-, E. RUCH LOCKING MEANS FOR PINS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 8, 19462 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Z'u erze Rue/a,

Nov. 14, 1950 RUCH LOCKING MEANS FOR PINS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Nov. 8, 1946 [aye/2e Each,

24mm (ma WW m Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKINGMEANS FOR PINS AND THE LIKE Eugene Ruch, Farmington, Mich. 2 ApplicationNovember 8, 1946, Serial No. 708,770

' 2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in locking means for pins, and thelike, the primary object in view being to provide means of simple formand inexpensive construction for holding in place pins inserted in animplement, machine part, or piece of work, for quick, easy removal andreplacement, and which obviates boring or threading the pins.

Other and subordinate objects also compre hended by my invention,together with the precise nature of my improvements, and the advantagesthereof, will be readily understood when the succeeding description andclaims are read with reference to thedrawings accompanying and formingpart of this specification.

In said drawings- Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevationillustrating my improved locking means, in a preferred embodimentthereof, applied to a wrench having a pivot pin connecting the handlemembers thereof.

Figure 2 is a view in front end elevation.

Figure'3 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section taken on the line3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a View in perspective of the pivot pin and the clip,detached.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in rear edge elevation.

Figure 6 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure1.

Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of m improvedlocking means.

Figure 8 is a view in plan.

Figure 9 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line 9-9 ofFigure 7.

Figures 10 and 11 are views in end elevation illustrating anothermodified form of my improved locking means.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, and first to Figures 1 to 6thereof, my improved locking means has been shown therein, by way ofillustration of a preferred form thereof, as embodied in a wrench havingthe usual pair of jawcarrying handle members I, 2, the latter of channelform for straddling the handle member I, and being adapted for pivotalconnection to the handle member I at different points along the same bymeans of a pivot pin inserted through a pair of opposed side aperturesin the handle member 2, and selective apertures 4 in the handle memberI.

According to my invention, in the preferred form thereof, the handlemember 2 is provided on one side thereof with a pair of punched outloop-like, lateral keepers Sarranged upon opposite sides of one aperture3 of the pair equidistantly therefrom.

The pivot pin 6 is provided with a head I on one end thereof, a taperedopposite end 8, and a circumferential groove 9 therein contiguous thetapered end 8 in substantially a common plane with the keepers 5.

A staple-like clip I8 is provided for coaction with the groove 9, andthe keepers 5, to secure the pivot pin 6 against longitudinaldisplacement. The clip If! is formed of resilient wire, with legs Iiadapted to straddle the pin 6 and fit in the groove 9, and a U-shapedend I2 adapted to fit in one keeper 5. The free ends I3 of the clip IE3are adapted to extend through the other keeper 5. The legs II are bentto provide pairs of opposed shoulders M, I5 on said legs adapted to fitfacing sides of the keepers 5 respectively to prevent endwise play ofthe clip In in said keepers 5 and yieldingly retaining said clip in saidkeepers.

As will now be seen, the clip IE] is first inserted through one keeper 5and then into the other keeper until the pairs of shoulders I4, I5engage the facing sides of said keepers, which occurs with a snapaction. The clip If! is thus secured in the keepers 5 but may bewithdrawn therefrom when desired. The pivot pin 6 may next be insertedthrough the apertures 3, and a selected aperture 4, and so that thetapered end 8 thereof will flex the legs II apart to snap into thegroove 9 when the pivot pin is pushed home. To remove the pivot pin 6,it is merely necessary to pull the same outwardl sufficiently for thegroove 9 to cam the legs it! apart so that said legs are flexed out ofthe groove 9.

In the modified form of m invention shown in Figures '7, 8 and 9, amember I6 straddling another member I I is provided with a side recessI8 therein larger than the diameter of the pivot pin 19 and surroundingthe tapered end 29 of said pin to house the groove 22 in said recess. Apair of slots 23 are provided in the member I6 extending from theopposite edges of the same to the recess I8 in a plane at a right angleto the axis of the pivot pin IS. The clip 26 is slidably extended intothe slots 23 and through the recess 88 in straddling relation to thetapered end 29 of the pivot pin I9. The legs 25 of the clip 24 are bentto provide a pair of opposed bends 26 bowed toward each other and whichinterlock with the groove 22 of the pivot pin I9 at opposite sides ofsaid pin, as best shown in Figure '7. Obviously, the bends 26 interlockwith the groove 22 with a snap action when the pivot pin I9 is inserted.As will be seen, in this form of the invention, the clip 24 issubstantially concealed in the member I6.

In the modified form of my invention shown in Figs. 10, 11, the pivotpin 21 is provided adjacent the tapered end 28 thereof with a pair ofcoplanar, circumferential grooves 29 in opposite sides thereof and intowhich the legs 30 of the clip 3| enter with a snap action when the pivotpin 2? is inserted between the legs 30 with said grooves 29 oppositesaid legs. By rotating the pivot pin 2?, the grooves 29 may be revolvedaway from and free of the legs 36, as shown in Figure 11, and said legsflexed apart by the portions of said pin intermediate said grooves 29,so

that said pin may be removed from between said legs. 7

The foregoing will, it is believed, suflice to impart a clearunderstanding of my invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is

susceptible of modification, without departing from the inventiveconcept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Means for locking a transverse pin in a member through which the pinextends comprising a resilient U-shaped clip having a pair of coplanarlegs straddling said pin at one end thereof and flexible to separate thesame, said end of said pin being circumferentially grooved t0 fit saidlegs for interlocking with said legs, said member being provided with apair of looplike keepers through which the ends of said clip 4 areinserted crosswise of said pin to hold said clip stationary at oppositeends thereof, said legs having bent portions between said keepers forcoaction therewith to prevent withdrawal of said clip out of saidkeepers.

2. Means for looking a transverse pin in a member through which the pinextends comprising a resilient U-shaped clip having a pair of coplanarlegs straddling said pin at one end thereof and flexible to separate thesame, said end of said pin being circumferentially grooved to fit saidlegs for interlocking with said legs, said member being provided withdevices through which said clip is inserted crosswise of said pin tohold said clip stationary at opposite ends thereof, said devicescomprising a pair of looplike keepers on said member accommodatingtherein the ends of said clip, and shoulders on said legs intermediatesaid keepers for engaging said keepers to prevent withdrawal of saidclip out of said keepers.

EUGENE RUCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 210,530 Hazen Dec. 3, 1878727,913 Dixon et a1 May 12, 1903 2,147,163 Jimerson Feb. 14, 19392,183,085 Richardson Oct. 25, 1939 2,314,470 Warren -Mar. 23, 1943

